Stop violence against women and girls now!

Next week, the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) will meet in New York on the issue of violence against women and girls.

The ITUC urges the international community not to give in on any of the draft conclusions.
Last year the Commission failed to reach agreement because of conservative governments questioning the very principle of gender equality. “This cannot happen again!” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, denouncing the current attacks on women’s rights and the cuts in budgets allocated to women’s issues.

The trade union delegation present in New York consisting of 100 women coming from Italy, Senegal, Canada, the UK, Angola, Morocco, Brazil, Singapore, Colombia, and other countries will actively demand that governments live up to their international and national obligations on the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

On Monday 11 March, a new ITUC–UN Women report “Domestic Workers Count Too: Implementing Protections for Domestic Workers” will be launched at a side event of the UNCSW57 in New York.

See the Global Union Statement to the 57 UNCSW

See the Equal Times special report on violence against women